1. Career Success Strategies for International Students
Presented by Deborah Federico
Career Specialist for the College of Management
Appointments: Call or Visit CC

2. Upcoming Career Events
Sports & Entertainment Career Fair: April 14, 12:00-3:00, Fenway Park, $25 fee includes ticket to the game!
Green Careers Forum, April 15, 3:00-5:00, Campus Center
Career Source: April 16, 11:00-2:00 PM, Somerville, MA, IT, Engineering and more!
Start-Up Career Event: April 17, 1:00-5:00 PM, Bayside, Business Development positions
Networking Night: April 29, 5:00-7:00 PM, Campus Center
More information on My Career Online and CM blogs

3. Advantages of Being an International Student
Global experience and multi-cultural awareness
Multi-lingual capabilities
Ability to live outside your comfort zone
Ability to adapt to new situations and culture
Have to work harder to achieve goal of working in US
Others?

4. Career Tips for International Students
Networking is very important
Don’t need family connections in the US
Tap into UMass alumni network
Family business experience is fine for resumes
Seek out US firms operating in your country or companies from your country operating in the US
Conduct informational interviews with UMass alumni
Have a professional LinkedIn profile

5. Career Resources for International Students
Jie’s World – American & International Corporations in China
KITA - US jobs for Korean students
Business Maps of India – American companies operating in India
Embassy Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the US – American firms operating in Vietnam
Career Jet – Japanese and Chinese company jobs in the US
SouthAfrica.info – American firms operating in South Africa
Do Google searches to discover more resources.

6. Career Tips for International Students
Experience is more important than grades
Get work experience in US before graduation
Have knowledge of CPT/OPT to educate employers
Don’t ask “Do you hire international students?”
Don’t say you’re going back home in two years
Have a Plan B

7. Power Ties Book and Website

8. Power Ties Pointers
Building Power Ties is a long-term career growth strategy
Networking is the most effective way to get a job
Avoid the HR department – go directly to hiring manager
Demonstrate how you can solve problems for employers
Find them out during informational interviews
Need to establish credibility and articulate your value
Tap into the hidden job market – 80% of jobs
Don’t appear desperate or demanding to employers

9. Work on Your English Skills
Participate in classes
Read daily newspapers
Read material out loud
Develop friendships with people not from your country
Attend professional networking events

10. Accessible through My Career Online
GoinGlobal Resource
Accessible through My Career Online

11. The Campus Career Coach
(accessible through My Career Online)
Contains article for international students

13. Internships for Academic Credit
All internships have to be done for academic credit
You must enroll in an internship course while doing your internship
Your internships must be at least 15 hours/week
You must have
75 credits
Minimum GPA of 2.5
Completion of one concentration course
Completed 21 credits in Management Core and Foundation courses
Need to get offer letter and job description from employer
Need approvals from UPO and Career Services

15. Work Authorization for International Students
What You Need to Know about
On & Off-Campus Employment
and Practical Training

16. What is Work Authorization?
Work Authorization is permission to work legally in the United States.
If you work without authorization, you could jeopardize your F-1 visa.

17. Types of Employment On-campus employment Practical training
No work authorization required
Part-time during academic year (up to 20 hours)
Full-time during breaks (up to 40 hours)
Practical training
Need authorization to work off-campus.
Must be degree-related
2 types: CPT & OPT

18. Volunteer ≠ Employee A volunteer is:
an individual who performs hours of service for a public agency for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation or receipt of compensation for services rendered (29 CFR )
An employee is:
an individual who provides services or labor for an employer for wages or other compensation

19. What is CPT?
Work authorization for internships and off-campus training required by the degree program. CPT internships:
1. are related to the degree field
2. fulfill an internship, practicum, or other training that is required by the student’s academic program OR is an experience for which the student receives credit.
CPT Eligibility:
Student must have completed two full-time semesters in U.S.
Must have a job offer
A student who uses more than 12 months of full-time CPT will not be eligible to apply for OPT

20. Applying for CPT Obtain internship offer and enroll in CPT course
Submit a complete CPT application packet to ISSO
ISSO will approve 1 semester of work authorization per application

21. What is OPT?
Optional Practical Training provides 12 months of work authorization, generally used after student completes the degree
Types of OPT:
Pre-completion OPT
Used during the course of study
Post-completion OPT
Used after the degree program is completed
STEM Extension OPT
17 additional months of work authorization for STEM majors

22. Applying for OPT
Apply up to 90 days before you graduate or up to 60 days after
Submit a OPT packet to ISSO for review
Mail your OPT application to USCIS
It takes days for USCIS to process your OPT application and mail your employment authorization document:

23. Compare: CPT vs. OPT CPT OPT Employer specific - job offer
No maximum for part-time, but should be limited to less than 12 months full-time CPT.
ISSO processes in 5 business days $0
PT or FT
Requires FT enrollment during academic year
Integral part of academic program
Does not require a job offer
Maximum of 12 mo FT. Pre- completion OPT counts against the 12 mo limit for post-completion
USCIS processes in 2-3 months
$380 Fee
Pre-completion can be PT or FT (both count against OPT)
Enrollment not required
Verify course completion/grad date

24. You may see this question when you are applying for jobs:
Sponsorship
You may see this question when you are applying for jobs:
“Will you now or in the future require sponsorship
for employment visa status?”
While you are eligible for CPT or OPT work authorization on the F-1 visa, you do not require “sponsorship”. When your F-1 work authorizations expire, you will require sponsorship to continue working in the U.S.

25. Social Security
Social Security Number (SSN) – is a US tax identification number required of all employed persons. International students can obtain an SSN once they have an offer of employment.
To request the SSN, you must have an offer of employment. Then,
1. complete ISSO’s SSN letter request
2. ISSO will prepare a letter for you
3. Bring the ISSO letter and required documents to Social Security office
4. SSN card will be mailed to you

26. Questions?